Leslie McDonel News

Splash's Musical Mondays is set to present a very special edition of 'Curtain Call' with Broadway star Leslie McDonel.

Casting has been announced for the upcoming North American tour of Green Day's AMERICAN IDIOT, the two-time Tony Award-winning Broadway hit called 'wonderfully raucous' and 'emotionally charged' by The New York Times, which will premiere in Toronto December 28 - January 15 before continuing on to 14 other markets across the United States.

The Civic Center of Greater Des Moines announced today three established Broadway performers will act as instructors in the Civic Center's first musical theater camp of the summer, STAGERIGHT BROADWAY EXPERIENCE taking place June 27-July 1 at the Civic Center.

American history meets Jersey Shore by way of The Great Gatsby at DrinkTheDeal's presentation of 'Thomas Jefferson & His Ragtime Orchestra' at mixology hotspot Theater Bar on June 24. The production, a comedic account of the life of the third President told through 1920s-style arrangements of current pop hits, is being staged as part of a three hour open bar event that runs from 9pm-12am.

The Civic Center of Greater Des Moines announced today three established Broadway performers will act as instructors in the Civic Center's first musical theater camp of the summer, STAGERIGHT BROADWAY EXPERIENCE taking place June 27-July 1 at the Civic Center.

AMERICAN IDIOT began performances at the St. James Theatre on March 24, 2010 and opened on Broadway on April 20, 2010 to a great set of reviews! Here's a sneak peek at Broadway Beat's openight night coverage of the show!

Though Universal Pictures has chosen not to produce an IN THE HEIGHTS film, the studio has its sights set on another Broadway hit: Green Day's AMERICAN IDIOT.

The producers of the critically acclaimed AMERICAN IDIOT previously announced that Green Day frontman and the musical's composer and co-author Billie Joe Armstrong would return to the role of "St. Jimmy" on Tuesday, April 5, 2011 for the final three weeks of the Broadway production at the St. James Theatre, 246 West 44 Street. Following 421 performances on Broadway and 27 previews, the final show is Sunday, April 24, 2011 at 7:30pm. The first national tour launches in the fall of 2011.

Following smash hit productions in Australia, London and Toronto, PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT THE MUSICAL began previews on Broadway on February 28 and opened on Sunday night, March 20, 2011. BroadwayWorld.com was there to party with the cast!

The producers of the critically acclaimed AMERICAN IDIOT announced today that original Broadway cast member and star of Scottsboro Boys Joshua Henry will return to the company on Tuesday, March 15 as 'Favorite Son.' Joining Henry is David Larsen (Billy Elliot) as 'Tunny' and P.J. Griffith (lead singer of the band Blue Movie) will play the role of 'St. Jimmy' from March 15-20 at the St. James Theatre, 246 West 44 Street.

It's just been announced that American Idiot will play its final performance on Broadway on April 24, 2011. Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong will return to the show for the final three weeks beginning on April 5, 2011.

Production photos of the new cast of AMERICAN IDIOT have been released! Davey Havok (lead vocalist of the American rock band AFI) has joined for a limited two week engagement as 'St. Jimmy.' In addition, Justin Guarini (Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown) will play the role of 'Will,' and current and original Broadway cast members Van Hughes and Libby Winters took over the roles of 'Johnny' and 'The Extraordinary Girl,' respectively on March 1, 2011.

Billie Joe Armstrong said goodbye to original cast members of AMERICAN IDIOT John Gallagher Jr. and Michael Esper, with a performance of 'Walking Out on Love.' All three gave their final performances last night. Check it out below!

Based on Green Day's groundbreaking rock opera American Idiot, Billie Joe Armstrong and the band collaborate with one of the theatre's most acclaimed creative teams, led by the Tony Award-winning director Michael Mayer, Pulitzer Prize and two-time Tony Award-winning composer and orchestrator Tom Kitt, and Olivier Award-winning choreographer Steven Hoggett, to bring this explosive, iconic album to the stage. Beginning in the fall, AMERICAN IDIOT, which opened on Broadway in April 2010 and has been playing the St. James Theatre since, will be brought to venues around the country.

Former American Idol runner up and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown alum Justin Guarini revealed to BroadwayWorld at the Drama League Gala last night that he will be joining the cast of AMERICAN IDIOT in March.

OSCAR and GRAMMY Award winning rock star Melissa Etheridge will play the role of 'St. Jimmy' for a one-week engagement in AMERICAN IDIOT, February 1 - 6, 2011. BroadwayWorld.com was there to capture her debut curtain call performance!

OSCAR and GRAMMY Award winning rock star Melissa Etheridge will play the role of 'St. Jimmy' for a one-week engagement in AMERICAN IDIOT, February 1 - 6, 2011. BroadwayWorld.com was there to capture her debut curtain call.

The producers of the critically acclaimed AMERICAN IDIOT announced today that OSCAR and GRAMMY Award winning rock star Melissa Etheridge will play the role of 'St. Jimmy' for a one-week engagement, February 1 - 6, 2011. Ms. Etheridge is one of the most iconic recording artists in the music industry. For the rest of the month, Green Day frontman and the musical's composer and co-author Billie Joe Armstrong will return to the role of 'St. Jimmy' and complete his 50 performance, limited engagement from February 10-27, 2011 at the St. James Theatre, 246 West 44 Street.

OSCAR and GRAMMY Award winning rock star Melissa Etheridge will play the role of 'St. Jimmy' for a one-week engagement in AMERICAN IDIOT, February 1 - 6, 2011. Ms. Etheridge is one of the most iconic recording artists in the music industry. For the rest of the month, Green Day frontman and the musical's composer and co-author Billie Joe Armstrong will return to the role of 'St. Jimmy' and complete his 50 performance, limited engagement from February 10-27, 2011 at the St. James Theatre, 246 West 44 Street.

Last night, the fans of AMERICAN IDIOT were treated to a special surprise when Green Day band member Mike Dirnt joined Billie Joe and the IDIOT crew onstage for the show's encore performance of 'Good Riddance (Time of Your Life).' Check out his cameo below.